Deadline to register foreign workers

According to Resolution 4386 of the Ministry of Labor (MinTrabajo), issued last October 9, 2018, companies will have up to 120 calendar days -following the execution of the contract or since the hiring- to formalize their foreign employees before the Single Registry of Foreign Workers in Colombia (RUTEC).

For companies that have had foreign workers since before this Resolution was issued, the deadline expires on February 9, 2019.

This new mechanism will allow employers to automatically register their migrant workers via web, so that MinTrabajo has first-hand information on their labor situation, working conditions and compliance with labor regulations, thus preventing abusive hiring practices.

In addition, this tool will provide statistics on the number of foreign workers, their demographic and occupational profile, the areas with the largest foreign population, the status of their social security contributions and identify the economic sectors that hire them the most.

It will also contribute methodologically to the policy of granting visas of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, such as, for example, the relevance of the granting of such document.

Who must register in the RUTEC?

All dependent and independent foreign workers who are working in the country, workers with PEP (granted to Venezuelan migrants) who contribute to the Social Security System and the administrative personnel of the Embassies or Consulates in Colombia.

It is important to highlight that it is the duty of companies, both in the public and private sectors, to register their foreign employees, including those who work for the provision of services.

Who should NOT register in the RUTEC?

• The Diplomatic Corps of Embassies and Consulates.
• Officials of International Organizations.
• Military and Commercial Attachés.

It should be clarified that the RUTEC:

• It is not a platform for the search or offer of employment; but rather, as indicated, it is an official Registry of foreign workers formally linked or hired in Colombia.
• Foreign workers who do not contribute to the Social Security system in Colombia or do not have a contract may not be registered.
• It is not a Migratory Regularization process